Rare creatures at risk if HS2 passes through Water Orton, claim wildlife group Read More http://www.birminghammail.net/news/top-stories/2012/02/11/rare-creatures-at-risk-if-hs2-passes-through-water-orton-claim-wildlife-group-97319-30308558/#ixzz1mDthlL6H

RARE creatures, including otter and water vole, are under threat following claims the HS2 high-speed rail link will cut through Birmingham’s most important green oasis in Water Orton.

The Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust, which manages the Park Hall reserve, in Water Orton, admitted it was now drawing-up a ‘‘damage limitation’’ exercise.

The 100-acre site – a mix of woods, grassland and wetland – is home to a host of nesting birds, including teal, reed bunting and buzzards. It’s also important for bats and rare moths.

And otters have been spotted on the reserve’s stretch of the River Tame. An artificial holt was recently erected on the banks in the hope tarkas would breed in the Birmingham area for the first time.

Wildlife Trust top brass, who manage the Environment Agency-owned land, spoke of their frustration over the lack of dialogue with HS2 Ltd, the company behind the link.

Chief executive Neil Wyatt said: “It would be helpful if they would talk to us properly, but they won’t talk specifics about any site.”

The Trust has resigned itself to accommodating the line, but backs Water Orton residents’ calls for a tunnel. At present a one mile stretch of The Tame, running through Park Hall, will be diverted, making the environment ‘‘much more hostile’’ for many creatures.

Mr Wyatt, 49, added: “We have spent a lot of money and effort on the woodland. This site is a gateway for wildlife at the western part of Birmingham.

“As it stands, the plans will turn one large nature reserve into two smaller nature reserves.”

Mr Wyatt stressed the Trust is not anti-HS2.

“We can see the benefits it brings to Birmingham. And, with work done ideally, there is even the opportunity to create habitats.”

Trust development manager Mark Dixon told the Mail: “It is an emotive issue. The rail link is seen as a positive thing by the business community and we do not want to take a confrontational stance.”

The £32 billion rail link will slice 35 minutes from the Birmingham to London rail journey but protestors claim money would be better spent upgrading existing rail stock and environmentalist have panned the project.

A HS2 spokesman said: “We want to develop close working partnerships with all those affected by the planned high speed link between London and the West Midlands.

‘‘We have contacted wildlife organisations to ask for their support in identifying key sites along the route and we are also writing to all relevant landowners to try and arrange site visits for detailed environmental survey work to assess the potential impact of the project.

“This programme is an essential part of the collection of data that will feed into wider environmental impact assessment of HS2, ahead of a hybrid Bill seeking powers to construct the line.”

Read More http://www.birminghammail.net/news/top-stories/2012/02/11/rare-creatures-at-risk-if-hs2-passes-through-water-orton-claim-wildlife-group-97319-30308558/#ixzz1mDtYVFQo

Munching moth is threat to trees

Rare insects have been discovered munching their way through – and killing – trees at a nature reserve.

Lunar hornet moths, which resemble hornets and have a wingspan of up to 4cm, have been found burrowing into willows at Dishley Pool, in Loughborough.

Wildlife experts from Charnwood Borough Council, which owns the reserve off Derby Road, noticed bore holes in the willows about three weeks ago and have had to cut down some 40 infected trees.

Council wildlife officer Mark Graham said it was initially thought they were Asian long-horn beetles, which have killed millions of trees in America.

He said: "We were very worried it may be them and we thought they might have arrived at a nearby industrial estate on pallets that come in from all over the world.

"We dug out a couple of the larvae and sent them off to the Forestry Commission for tests.

"When the results came back there was a huge sigh of relief.

"Lunar hornet moths present nowhere near as large a threat to the wider tree population.

"They like willows but are unlikely to kill off the larger ones."

There are 200 trees remaining and it is estimated there could be four to six caterpillar-like pupas feeding on the core of those which have been affected. In the spring the pupae will hatch into the hornet-like moths.

Mr Graham said although the moths were native to the UK he had only seen one in Charnwood before.

He added: "This moth is not a common insect and sightings are unusual.

"They mimic animals and look like hornets to keep away birds which might eat them.

"A hornet sting is very nasty indeed and could kill a bird.

"For anyone who would like to catch a glimpse of the moths, July will be the ideal time as the fully grown adults will be emerging from their host trees, presenting a fascinating insight into these unusual insects."

Councillor Hilary Fryer, the council's cabinet member for open spaces, said: "We take enormous pride in our public spaces in Charnwood and it is fantastic that we employ experts like Mark whose eagle eyes helped spot this opportunity."

The pool, also home to several species of dragonfly and damselfly, is open to the public.

http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/Munching-moth-threat-trees/story-15165928-detail/story.html

Continental mosquito with ‘vector’ potential found breeding in UK after 60 year absence

A species of mosquito not seen in the UK since 1945 has been discovered breeding in the country. Populations of the mosquito, found across mainland Europe and known only by its Latin name Culex modestus, were recorded at sites in the marshes of north Kent and south Essex in 2010 and 2011.

The discovery was made by postgraduate student Nick Golding, and the mosquito was definitively identified by colleague Stefanie Schäfer of the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (CEH). The mosquito was also concurrently found by medical entomologists at the Health Protection Agency as part of their nationwide mosquito surveillance programme. Details of a collaborative study between CEH and the HPA are published today (9 February 2012) in the journal Parasites and Vectors.

Culex modestus is suspected to transmit West Nile virus (WNV) to humans during sporadic epidemics in southern Europe. However, to date, WNV has never been found in the UK so there is no known current risk to humans living here. The virus primarily infects birds, but when the pathogen is transmitted from birds to humans by the bite of a mosquito it can very occasionally cause severe disease, although it usually causes only asymptomatic or mild infections.

Lead author Nick Golding said, “It is unclear how long Culex modestus has been breeding in the UK – the new specimens were found during field studies in 2010 and 2011 – but it seems likely that the species has arrived fairly recently. A handful of individuals were collected on the south coast in the 1940s, but didn’t appear to be an established population. Since those records the species hasn’t been seen again in the UK, until now.”

Dr Miles Nunn from the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, who is Nick Golding’s doctoral supervisor, said, “Not all mosquito species can transmit West Nile virus to people. In continental Europe, Culex modestus is able to because the virus can reproduce inside the mosquito and the mosquito feeds on both humans and on birds which are the main host of West Nile virus. Once the mosquito’s salivary glands become infected the virus is secreted into the host (man or bird) in saliva when the mosquito feeds. However, in the UK the mosquitoes' biting habits and ability to transmit West Nile virus have yet to be investigated.”

Nick Golding, Dr Nunn and colleagues at CEH, the HPA and Oxford University are continuing to work together to establish just how widespread these mosquitoes are and whether there is any risk to human health. They have been using satellite imagery in order to identify habitats where the mosquito might be breeding, before looking for it on the ground.

Nick is also studying Culex modestus and other mosquitoes to determine the specific habitat within the marshes in which they breed and what effect wetland management has on this habitat.

Dr Nunn added, “Culex modestus is difficult to distinguish from related mosquitoes that are less likely to transmit viruses to humans. Its discovery highlights the importance of expert long-term biological recording of UK wildlife by the scientific community.”

Additional information

A Q&A feature provides more background information on both Culex modestus and West Nile Virus

CEH issued a press release for this story.

The full paper "West Nile virus vector Culex modestus established in southern England" by Nick Golding, Miles A Nunn, Jolyon M Medlock, Bethan V Purse, Alexander G C Vaux and Stefanie M Schäfer is published in Parasites and Vectors.

Related CEH links

Staff page and research interests of Dr Miles Nunn

Staff page and research interests of Dr Bethan Purse

CEH Biodiversity Objective 2.2: The impact of invasive species, pathogens and vectors of disease

 http://www.ceh.ac.uk/news/news_archive/vector-potential-mosquito-UK_2012_11.html

Wildlife 'facing a tough summer' with water shortage

Nature experts have warned that this summer could be the worst for wildlife for more than 30 years because of low water levels in the eastern region.

The autumn was the driest since 1985, and demand for water is rising with the growing population.

Alex Dunlop reports from the Welney wetland centre in the Fens.

Watch video at:  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-16859083

World Society for the Protection of Animals team up with Met police in fight against wildlife crime

Fight against wildlife crime
January 2012. London's specialist wildlife police have been given a financial boost in their efforts to stamp out wildlife crime in the city - the first time a charity has directly funded a Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) unit. Thanks to the intervention from an animal welfare charity, the MPS Wildlife Crime Unit (WCU) will be gaining more staff as well as resources to train up the next generation of specialist enforcement officers as its current officers near retirement.

World Society for the Protection of Animals
World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA UK) made the unusual move after witnessing a wave of UK-wide austerity cuts and watching Defra Minister Richard Benyon battle to save the National WCU in parliament. The London WCU was finding it increasingly difficult to effectively address wildlife crime in London - more officers and resources were needed, but it was clear that additional centralised funding would have been impossible in the current economic climate.

The charity's funding has safeguarded the future of the unit - allowing the current staff to pass on their extensive and valuable institutional knowledge - as well as allowing the unit to expand to better tackle wildlife crime.

Organised gangs
WSPA UK Head of External Affairs Simon Pope explained: "Without the specialist skills and knowledge of the WCU, wildlife crime in London could flourish. This is not some niche, illicit trade carried out by petty part-time villains. It is a major source of revenue for a global network of hardened criminals, gangs and drug lords; all growing rich from the trafficking of wildlife and none about to have a crisis of conscience and stop what they are doing."

Combined with WSPA's 30-plus years of international animal welfare work, global contacts and expertise, the partnership looks set to create a meaningful legacy.

Sergeant Ian Knox, Head of the Metropolitan Police Wildlife Crime Unit said: "I am delighted that the World Society for the Protection of Animals has decided to contribute a significant amount of money to the Wildlife Crime Unit. The extra funding will pay for more staff so we can be more proactive in targeting criminals who seek to exploit animals for financial gain.

"We will also be able to provide additional support and training to Wildlife Crime Officers across London which will ensure that the Met has the capability to tackle crimes against animals in the future."

Simon added: "WSPA believes that the knowledge contained in the WCU is an irreplaceable asset to London, national and international enforcement communities. We know that our supporters and Londoners want to see wildlife criminals bought to justice, so it seemed vital now more than ever to safeguard the future of this specialist unit."

The partnership launch marks the first milestone in WSPA UK's new wildlife campaign, which will cover a wide range of issues from wildlife crime and illegal trade, to bear sanctuaries and marine welfare concerns.

Continued:  http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/wspa.html

Mystery over Blackpool bubbles as promenade is awash with foam

Blackpool residents have been left baffled by a mysterious foamy substance which has blown in from the sea, carpeting a number of roads.

The foam is piled several feet high in areas closest to the sea, making driving conditions particularly treacherous. 

Locals have expressed worries that the phenomenon is caused by polluting detergents, and said it is forcing people to stay at home. 

But environmental experts have allayed their fears and suggested the foam could be the result of waves churning decomposing algal matter. 

An Environment Agency spokesperson said: 'We have taken samples of the foam as obviously if this is caused by any kind of polluting material, we need to know about it. 

'Early samples are not showing any trace of detergent so we think it could be the combination of decomposing algal matter churned with the tide and the westerly wind which is causing the foam. 

It is not the first time the area has been awash with the foam, which came in from the sea like a snow blizzard following recent winds of up to 90mph. 

'We know it happens occasionally and can disappear again quite quickly so we will be looking further into what triggers it,' said the spokesperson.

Read more: http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/886046-mystery-over-blackpool-bubbles-as-promenade-is-awash-with-foam#ixzz1iIslahRx

UK fairy shrimps under threat from recent dry autumn

Fairy shrimps threatened after dry autumn

Britain's endangered fairy shrimps are under threat as a dry autumn has affected the ponds they live in, a charity says.


Fairy shrimps are tiny translucent crustaceans, which usually hatch near Christmas.

But charity Pond Conservation says many of their pools may dry out completely.

Another problem is that some "transient" ponds are beginning to hold water permanently, allowing predatory fish to colonise them.

Pond Conservation's Dr Jeremy Biggs said: "With only a handful of sites across the whole of Britain, the future of these beautiful creatures is balanced on a knife-edge."

It is that hoped fairy shrimps (Chirocephalus diaphanous), which are protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act, will return to their "strongholds" this Christmas in Hampshire's New Forest, on the edge of Dartmoor in Devon, on Salisbury Plain, in parts of the Sussex Weald, as well as in Oxfordshire, East Anglia and South Wales.


They complete their life-cycle during the coldest part of the year, hatching as water returns to their shallow ponds, which dry out in summer.

They reach maturity over winter, then lay eggs, which can survive long periods of drought. The adults die when their ponds dry out in spring.

Dr Biggs said: "They are facing a double-whammy from pollution and changing weather patterns.

"We don't know whether they can survive in their existing habitats, so we have also been making special new seasonal clean water ponds for them to try to increase their numbers.

"We're hoping that by providing more habitat, we will increase their chances of surviving in the British countryside."

He says that, although Britain has half a million ponds, 80% of those in England and Wales are polluted.

Dr Biggs added: "We'd ask people to look out for them on their Christmas day walk, especially if they are walking past small pools in more natural parts of the countryside - in woods, or on heathland, for example."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/16303086

Adder disappearance in Nottinghamshire 'very worrying'

Wildlife experts fear that the adder may be extinct in Nottinghamshire after another annual survey failed to find any evidence of the reptile.

The last confirmed sighting of the venomous snake in the county was in Sherwood Forest in 2005.

Nick Crouch, a conservationist, said its disappearance was "very worrying" as the species was a key indicator of the health of the food chain.

The wildlife expect has appealed for the public to report any sightings.

'Bit of a mystery'
Mr Crouch, a nature conservation leader for Nottinghamshire County Council, said the species was once quite widespread across Sherwood.

Adders are in rapid decline in the UK and experts put this mainly down to habitat loss and disturbance.

"These snakes require areas of heathland and woodland," Mr Crouch said.

Read more here ...

It’s once bittern twice spied as birds return

By MATTHEW REVILLE


LARGE numbers of a rare bird that was once extinct in the United Kingdom have settled in a redeveloped old quarry in Peterborough.

Changes to King’s Dyke Nature Reserve have attracted the uncommon bitterns to the site, and they have now been spotted there for the second year in a row.

On Wednesday the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) said young bitterns were sighted there for the first time this year, meaning they are settling and breeding.

The birds – best known for their distinctive ‘booming’ call – have been flocking to the former quarry, as the numbers of the species in the country rise to more than 100 for the first time since 1911.

The location was formerly one of a series of clay quarries just east of Whittlesey.

The pit has been excavated to a depth of 16 metres below sea level but the water is still kept to a low level by pumping.

Hanson Brick, the owners of the site, restored the pit as a 16 hectare nature reserve in 1999, and its lush greenery and lakes make perfect conditions for bitterns.

David Weeks, communications manager for Hanson Brick, said: “It is very good news that the bitterns have been nesting at King’s Dyke.

“There has been an amazing transformation from the old brick quarry into a nationally recognised nature reserve.

“Our volunteers who have put in a lot of time and effort to get to this stage, and the fact it is now attracting bitterns is a great thing.”

King’s Dyke Nature Reserve is not the only revamped quarry to be providing a safe haven for bitterns to nest and breed.

More than 100 have been found nesting in 26 sites throughout England, including Needingworth Quarry, Huntingdon, for the first time ever.

The numbers represent a vast improvement on the overall count of just 11 birds recorded in 1996.

The minerals industry has been at the centre of the push for action to secure the return of the bittern, and the group Nature After Minerals (NAM) has been set up to create a formal link between industry chiefs and the RSPB and Natural England.

They aim to encourage the effective and sustainable restoration of quarries for the benefit of wildlife and local communities.

RSPB Warden, Chris Hudson, said: “Across the county we are losing some species at an alarming rate.

“The mineral products industry is uniquely positioned to step up and help turn this around.

“The Hanson-RSPB projects are a fantastic example of how quarry sites around the country can be restored for the benefit of wildlife.”

Mineral Products Association (MPA) Chief Executive Nigel Jackson said: “Given the right recognition and support, we can achieve a great deal more yet. Protecting and enhancing biodiversity is finally being recognised as one the industry’s hidden benefits.

“As a critical part of the UK’s manufacturing base, we are essential to construction, to the economy and to growth and uniquely placed to make a significant contribution to halting the decline in the UK’s biodiversity.

“Our members already manage or control an area of land that adds up in size to a small national park.”

In October, Hanson finished as runners-up at the MPA’s Restoration Awards Scheme ceremony in London for its work at the Kings Dyke Nature Reserve.

Over 140 species of birds have been recorded on the reserve including raptors, breeding waders and a range of wetland and scrub birds.

What is a bittern
BITTERNS are a thickset heron which is a secretive bird and difficult for even the most seasoned birdwatcher to see.

The small birds have a length of 75cm and a wingspan of 130cm, and can most regularly be seen moving silently through reeds looking for fish.

They have an all-over pale buffy-brown plumage covered with dark streaks and bars.

In contradiction to their secretive appearance, they are easily heard through their remarkably far-carrying booming voice – especially the males in spring.

Bitterns have such a small population they appear on the RSPB’s Red List – meaning they are one of the most threatened in the UK.

Although they are rare, the birds are most regularly seen in the south of England and in East Anglia.

http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/news/environment/it_s_once_bittern_twice_spied_as_birds_return_1_3321212

Glossy ibis in Derbyshire

Rare ‘Glossy' ibis seen at former coking works
November 2011. A very rare visitor to British shores has been seen at a nature reserve that only five years ago was part of the most contaminated site in Europe.

The glossy ibis, which gets its name from the iridescent sheen on its wings, was recorded by Derbyshire Wildlife Trust volunteers Alan Watts and Ron Turner at The Avenue Washlands Nature Reserve near Chesterfield. The bird has only been recorded around a hundred times in the country since 1954 and only three times in Derbyshire. The reserve, owned by the Land Trust and managed by Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, is on part of the former Avenue Coking Works.

Richard Spowage, the Reserves Manager commented: "It is extremely rare for this bird to turn up in Derbyshire as it's usually found in southern Europe. The Washlands reserve has areas of reedbed and marsh which provide good feeding habitat for the glossy ibis."

Growing bird list
The glossy Ibis is the latest rare visitor to the reserve, which now has recorded an amazing 118 species since recording started in 2007. Included in this impressive list are bittern, little egret, dipper and barn owl.

Most contaminated site in Europe
Euan Hall, chief executive of the Land Trust, comments, "Amazingly only six years ago this reserve was part of what was reckoned to be the most contaminated site in Europe. Thanks to a restoration programme funded by the Homes and Communities Agency's National Coalfield Programme it is now a haven for wildlife as well as a place where people can experience the great outdoors and gain a multitude of benefits while doing so. A lot of credit has to go to the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust who have mobilised people to get involved in enhancing the wildlife value of this special space."

http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/glossy-ibis-uk.html

Dramatic rise in sheep rustling costing farmers £5million a year

HERE’S a crime that calls for more bobbies on the bleat…

Organised gangs of crooks are thought to be behind a dramatic 80% rise in sheep rustling across Britain.

About 30,000 were stolen in the first eight months of this year as the impact of the recession bites.
Police fear the criminals may be shipping the animals abroad as cheap meat.

The North East is the worst-affected region. Recently 86 sheep were stolen from fields near Belsay in Northumberland.

And in Lincolnshire, 1,500 sheep and lambs were snatched near Louth. A spokeswoman for ­insurance firm NFU Mutual, which deals with many of the claims, said: “In the last decade, ­livestock rustling has been at historically low levels, while farm thieves concentrated on stealing quad bikes, tractors and power tools. High meat prices and improved security appear to be leading to a resurgence in livestock rustling.”

Chief Superintendent Mark Dennett, from Northumbria police, added: “I have been an officer for 29 years and incidents of livestock going missing have never been on this scale. I believe this is organised crime. The gangs must be using large vehicles.

“I suspect the sheep could be transported out of the region, or even loaded on ships bound for Europe. The farming community is very close knit. The vast majority of butchers and suppliers know exactly where their meat comes from. It is crucial we get information.”

Sheep sell for around £100 each on the black market. Theft of livestock in 2011 has cost farmers across England, Scotland and Wales more than £5million.


by Steve White, Daily Mirror
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2011/10/03/dramatic-rise-in-sheep-rustling-costing-farmers-5million-a-year-115875-23462671/

Britain's largest spider to be reintroduced

The Fen Raft spider is one of the country's most endangered species of spider. With an adult leg span of 4 inches across they are also the largest native spider to the UK.

They are only found in three locations in the UK, with declines in their wetland habitat and water quality causing their numbers to plummet.

Now Chessington World of Adventure is leading a project to hand-rear 200 baby fen raft spiders for release into the wild.

The spiderlings will be raised in test tubes and hand-fed fruit flies every four days before being released into the wild in October.

Bob Ward, reptile keeper at Chessington Zoo, said: “Having to feed 200 spiders one at a time is certainly a challenge, but it’s vital to help see them through the most vulnerable period of their lives before they are released back into the wild, as they will then have a much better chance of surviving."

Raft spiders are one of just two British spiders protected under law because they are so endangered. They are now found in just three places in East Sussex, Swansea and the Suffolk/Norfolk border.
Their large hairy legs allow them to float on the water of the fens and wetlands, where they hunt sticklebacks and tadpoles underwater.

Currently the tiny spiderlings measure just a few millimetres across but they will grow to be up to four inches in size as adults.

Mr Ward added: "The spiders’ mums were collected from the wild in June when they carry their eggs in huge silk sacs held in their mouths.

"When the babies emerge from the sac the mother guards them in a big silk tent called a nursery web. In the wild the babies leave the web after about a week to fed for themselves. Our captive mums made their nurseries in five-litre water bottles.

“After a week we used a ‘pooter’ to collect the spiderlings from the nursery, which involves sucking them up into a tube with a piece of mesh and then dropping them into a container – but now we’re seeing them grow and they’re actually getting too big for the pooter.”

By Rhiannon Williams
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildlife/8770898/Britains-largest-spider-to-be-reintroduced.html

Marine protection bids unveiled

Protection for key nature sites in UK seas has come a step closer with the unveiling of proposals to create over 100 Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs).

The zones range from tiny stretches of coastline to large tracts of sea floor.

The proposals stem from the 2009 UK Marine Bill and cover seas abutting the English coast and waters around Wales more than 12 miles from the coast.

They will be assessed by an expert panel before the government makes its final decision, probably next year.

The panel will also have to finalise levels of protection in each zone, as the Marine Bill allows regulators a lot of flexibility in what to prohibit (such as fishing) for which periods of the year.

If all proposals are approved, just over a quarter of English waters would end up under some kind of protection. Currently, the total is way under 1%.

But the zones are also supposed to be designed in such a way as to leave room for other activities such as industries and recreation.

"Today has seen our ambition to put in place special protection areas for marine life off the coast of England take a significant step forward," said Environment Minister Richard Benyon.

"The thousands of species of sealife and habitats that live hidden under our waters need just as much protection as those that we can see on land."

Scotland's Marine Bill passed only last year, so Scottish bids for protected areas are a little behind, but are expected to materialise next year. The Northern Ireland assembly has still to legislate.

'Coherent' aim
The ultimate aim is to create an "ecologically coherent" network of protected areas around all UK coasts, safeguarding important natural habitats while allowing other activities such as recreational angling, commercial fishing, surfing and marine energy to go ahead.

Four different groups were formed to develop the portfolio of proposals in different parts of England and Wales.

They have brought together stakeholders that - at least in principle - cover all parties with an interest in the seas.

The group covering south-west England, for example, numbered representatives of the minerals industry, renewable electricity companies, charter boat skippers, scuba divers and the Ministry of Defence among a set of 41 stakeholders consulted.

The hope is that with a lot of the consultation already undertaken, the proposals should chart a relatively straightforward course through the approval process.

"We will scrutinise the recommendations carefully," vowed Peter Ryder, chairman of the Marine Protected Area Science Advisory Panel that will now assess the bids.

"And in October (we) will provide our scientific assessment on the extent to which the resulting composite network of MCZs and existing Marine Protected Areas is likely to achieve the goal of ecological coherence."

Among the sites proposed for protection are:

• Chesil Beach, Dorset's remarkable stretch of shingle
• Land's End
• the Silver Pit, a relic of an ancient sub-glacial valley in the seabed off the Yorkshire coast
• the Donna Nook seal colony in Lincolnshire
• tracts covering thousands of square kilometres of seabed off the Cornish coast

The government and its advisors hope that in part, the protection measures will benefit industries such as tourism and fishing, by securing features that divers like to visit and by providing secure "nurseries" for juvenile fish.

"All MCZs should be fully protected from damaging activities and bottom-towed fishing gears, and our work has shown overwhelming public support for this stance," commented Melissa Moore, senior policy officer with the Marine Conservation Society (MCS).

"Fully protected sites have been shown to yield a fourfold increase in the weight of marine species, whilst species diversity increases by 20%."

While some proposed areas have already been struck off the list by industry concerns, she said, conservationists welcomed the proposals that "are desperately needed so that marine habitats and ecosystems can begin to recover from decades of degradation."

By Richard Black Environment correspondent, BBC News
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-14823942

Vampire Bat Saliva Helps Stroke Victims

(NewsCore) - Saliva from vampire bats was being used to help treat stroke victims as part of a trial at UK hospitals, The (London) Sunday Telegraph reported.

A drug treatment derived from the substance can thin blood and help to breakup clots on the brain, research showed.

Current medicines that thin the blood need to be administered within four hours of a stroke to be effective, but the new drug can have a similar effect up to nine hours later.

Bat saliva was chosen because protein found in the substance keeps the blood of their prey thin enough to drink.

The trial is currently taking place in 40 hospitals across the UK, with 400 patients receiving the new drug.

Doctors said that if the trials were successful, the treatment could become widespread within three years.

http://www.myfoxphilly.com/dpps/news/offbeat/vampire-bat-saliva-helps-stroke-victims-dpgonc-km-20110904_14861469

Bittern: other species that have made comeback from extinction

There have been several species that have come back from the brink of extinction. Here are some examples.

Dormice and water voles: Two of Britain's best-loved countryside mammals, are recovering from the brink of extinction thanks to conservation programmes to save them. Both animals are well known through popular fiction: the dormouse was immortalised in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Ratty in Wind in the Willows is a water vole. Intensive farming techniques, pollution and climate change had threatened to wipe out both species across much of England.

Bumblebees: The five most threatened bumblebees in England have made an unprecedented comeback in the South East this year thanks to environmental work by farmers. The large garden bumblebee, the shrill carder bee, the red shanked carder bee, the moss carder bee and the brown banded carder bee are all considered under threat. The species have suffered from intensive farming, that means there are less wildflowers and the spread of towns and cities.

Farmland birds: Endangered species of countryside birds are staging a dramatic comeback on farms taking part in a pioneering conservation experiment. Even fast-disappearing species such as yellowhammer and house sparrow are flourishing on the farms involved.

Grizzly bear and Grey Wolf: After being wiped out in the 1930s, the Grey Wolf's population has swelled to more than 5000 across America. The grizzly bear and the wolf could be removed from the US list of endangered species, in a move likely to spark fierce resistance from environmentalists. Previous efforts by the George W Bush administration to remove protections from the two species were defeated by opposition in court from wildlife conservation groups.

Great bustard: A bid to reintroduce the great bustard to the UK has scored another success with four wild chicks hatching in this country so far in 2010. It is the second year that the internationally endangered birds, which have been reared in captivity and released on Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire, over the past few years, have successfully bred. The large species, whose males can stand over a metre tall (40 inches) and with a wingspan of up to 2.4m (7.75 ft) had disappeared from the UK by 1832 after being hunted to extinction.

Pictures at:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildlife/8736663/Bittern-other-species-that-have-made-comeback-from-extinction.html

Extinct bumblebee to be reintroduced to Britain

Scientists are planning to release around 60 short-haired bumblebee queens into wild flower meadows in an attempt to re-establish the species in this country.

The rare insect, which is also known by its scientific name of Bombus subterraneus, has not been seen in the UK since 1988 when it was spotted in a meadow in Dungeness, Kent.

The queens to be reintroduced have been imported from Sweden. The first crop of the fertilised insects are currently being screened for disease, before being released into meadows in southern England in the spring. Other releases are likely to follow.

Dr Mark Brown, a senior lecturer in biology at Royal Holloway who is involved in the scheme, said: "These insects have been declining across Europe due to the changes in agricultural practice that have seen the decline in flower-rich wild meadows.

"While other species of bumblebee have been declining, this is one that we have lost and we are aiming to bring it back. They tend to specialise in feeding on flowers like red clover so as meadows have disappeared so have the bees.

By Richard Gray, Science Correspondent

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/countryside/8726927/Extinct-bumblebee-to-be-reintroduced-to-Britain.html

Wetland birds being frozen out of Britain

Although avocet and godwits doing well August 2011: After a run of mild winters in the past decade, the two most recent have been much colder - and it appears to be driving many wetland birds away from our shores.

Wetland birds often respond strongly to freezing conditions - and while there have been influxes of ducks such as mallards and teal to the UK, presumably escaping from even colder parts of continental Europe, numbers of lapwing and golden plover have declined, according to the results of the Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) by the British Trust for Ornithology.

Wintering population trends, covering a ten-year period since 1997/98, show that numbers of avocet have risen by 95 per cent and black-tailed godwit by 54 per cent; both species are using our estuaries in greater numbers than ever before. But some familiar waders are declining, such as dunlin (down 39 per cent), ringed plover (down 26 per cent), curlew (down 16 per cent) and redshank (down 13 per cent).

Period of freezing conditions can have a profound effectThere have been changes at inland wetlands, too. For example, 2009/10 was the first winter when the total number of gadwall counted by WeBS exceeded that of another duck, the declining pochard. Whereas the number of gadwalls in Britain and elsewhere in Europe has risen in recent years, the pochard has decreased substantially, probably as a result of a shift in wintering range towards central Europe.

Chas Holt, WeBS Organiser at BTO, said: ‘In 2009/10, WeBS volunteers made more than 34,000 visits to wetland sites to count waterbirds. Once again this is a fantastic effort, and fundamental in helping to illustrate what is happening to Britain's internationally important waterbird populations.
'Although some familiar waders are declining in the UK partly because of range shifts in response to generally milder winters, a period of freezing conditions can have profound effects on some species. Collaboration with other national bird monitoring schemes helps us to place into context the increases and decreases experienced in the UK.'

Mobile birds often escape the harshest conditionsRichard Gregory is the head of the RSPB's species monitoring and research section. He said: ‘We have every right to be concerned about the impacts of climate change on wildlife, but we have to consider the impacts of extreme weather too. Mobile species, such as ducks and wading birds, often escape the harshest conditions, highlighting the importance of maintaining a UK-wide and international network of protected sites, where millions of birds can continue to find a safe refuge.'

David Stroud, JNCC's senior ornithologist said: ‘The UK submits these WeBS counts to international monitoring programmes which allow us to understand changes of these migratory waterbird populations at wider, international scales. To that end they are a critical means by which the UK contributes to obligations under a number of international conservation treaties.'

Richard Hearn, Head of Species Monitoring at WWT, said: ‘This year, as every year, our conservation team and reserve managers have been eagerly awaiting the WeBS results. They are a vital part of our conservation and management toolkit, and they show that many waterbird species in the UK are now decreasing.

'This is worrying, but it confirms the need for WWT's conservation activities on species such as Bewick's swan and Greenland white-fronted goose. Other species, such as pochard, still visit some WWT reserves in large numbers, despite decreasing by almost a half in the UK as a whole, so we're developing plans to further investigate their declines.'

http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/wetland-weather2011.html

British ladybirds in decline – Harlequin moving in

New atlas reveals trends in British ladybird species

July 2011. The first atlas of Britain and Ireland's ladybirds has been published. The atlas is the result of a six year research project by the UK Ladybird Survey, building on data collected over the last two centuries.

The new publication maps all 47 species of Ladybirds in Britain and Ireland, building on thousands of observations from volunteer recorders. The earliest record in the atlas is that of the rare 13-spot ladybird, recorded near Oxford in 1819. The most commonly recorded species, with 27000 records, is the 7-spot ladybird, closely followed by the newly arrived Harlequin ladybird with over 25000 records.

10 ladybirds in decline
Within the atlas there is a detailed analysis of ladybird observations from the last twenty years. The results show that ten ladybird species have significantly declined in this period, whilst five have increased. Distribution maps are provided for each species together with a wide range of supplementary information covering recording techniques, species identification, ladybird parasites, historical aspects, and 194 colour photographs.

Author Dr Helen Roy said, "The atlas data enable us to address many key questions on the fascinating life histories of our 47 ladybird species. As well as being charismatic and popular insects, ladybirds have an important role as indicators of our changing environment."

14 & 10 spot ladybirds in decline

Declining species include the 14-spot and 10-spot ladybirds, which are principally greenfly (aphid) feeding ladybirds coveted by gardeners. Species doing well, and expanding their geographical range, include the Pine ladybird and the mildew-feeding Orange ladybird. In the past the Orange ladybird was a rare species. However it has thrived in recent years, partly by adapting to life on additional types of tree.

Author Dr Peter Brown said, "Ladybirds have captured the imagination of people for centuries. When the on-line UK Ladybird Survey was launched in 2005 we could never have imagined that tens of thousands of people would contribute records. This staggering response has enabled us to assess changes to the distribution of ladybirds over time. In addition, recorders' meticulous observations provide inspiration for new research directions. We hope that people will continue to contribute to this long-term study."

Dr Roy added, "Ladybird interactions with natural enemies, particularly parasites, are intriguing and we hope that this atlas will encourage further recording of both ladybirds and also the natural enemies associated with them."

Roger Hawkins, author of the Ladybirds of Surrey and the foreword to the new atlas, said, "The new Ladybird Atlas of Britain and Ireland offers so much more than distribution maps. Using a mix of photographs and text it helps with the identification of all ladybird species, from the largest to the very smallest, and in all their stages: egg, larva, pupa and adult. There is information on life histories, behaviour, host plants and prey, and details of the enemies of ladybirds, especially their parasites. The atlas is published at a critical moment in the story of ladybirds in Britain and Ireland as our native species, so carefully mapped and studied over recent decades, must now compete with the alien Harlequin ladybird."

The atlas author team included Dr Helen Roy from the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Dr Peter Brown from Anglia Ruskin University, Dr Remy Poland from Clifton College and wildlife enthusiast and ladybird recorder Robert Frost.

The atlas can be ordered via all good bookshops or purchased from the Field Studies Council or the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology

http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/ladybird-atlas.html#cr

Seal sightings baffle wildlife experts

A sharp increase in the number of seals around the coast has baffled wildlife experts, who say they have no idea where the animals are mating or giving birth.


They want the public to help solve the mystery.


Researchers have no accurate numbers for the country’s seals but have reported a large increase in sightings in recent years, especially in the Kent and Sussex area.

Brett Lewis of the University of Kent is leading the investigation.

He hopes that if coastal walkers record their sightings with the university an accurate picture can be created.

“If a dog walker or someone sees anything they think we might be interested in, I want to know the details and the exact location of the breeding pair,” he said.

“It will help us build up a much bigger picture of where they are colonising.”


A report last year found that Scotland had more grey seals than previously estimated but that common seals were in decline.

It was estimated that there were around 164,000 grey seals north of the border and a minimum of 20,000 common seals.

Around 15 per cent of the world’s grey seal population is thought to breed on Orkney but little is known about the boom in the South.

A similar survey helped map seal populations in Cumbria in 2007.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildlife/8228656/Seal-sightings-baffle-wildlife-experts.html

Seal sightings baffle wildlife experts

A sharp increase in the number of seals around the coast has baffled wildlife experts, who say they have no idea where the animals are mating or giving birth.


They want the public to help solve the mystery.


Researchers have no accurate numbers for the country’s seals but have reported a large increase in sightings in recent years, especially in the Kent and Sussex area.

Brett Lewis of the University of Kent is leading the investigation.

He hopes that if coastal walkers record their sightings with the university an accurate picture can be created.

“If a dog walker or someone sees anything they think we might be interested in, I want to know the details and the exact location of the breeding pair,” he said.

“It will help us build up a much bigger picture of where they are colonising.”


A report last year found that Scotland had more grey seals than previously estimated but that common seals were in decline.

It was estimated that there were around 164,000 grey seals north of the border and a minimum of 20,000 common seals.

Around 15 per cent of the world’s grey seal population is thought to breed on Orkney but little is known about the boom in the South.

A similar survey helped map seal populations in Cumbria in 2007.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildlife/8228656/Seal-sightings-baffle-wildlife-experts.html